Melbourne, April 8: The International Cricket Council's (ICC) new chief executive Haroon Lorgat has plans to revamp international cricket which will include a revised schedule, a stronger Zimbabwean team and improved technology for umpires.

Lorgat stressed that there is a need to strengthen the game in its traditional strongholds before expanding into new frontiers.

As part of that, he envisioned Zimbabwe remaining in the international cricketing fold, despite well-documented financial irregularities at board level.

"I am an eternal optimist, and perhaps my timing is not bad in terms of the political situation in Zimbabwe," Lorgat was quoted as saying in The Age.

"I think the game needs to strengthen vertically, rather than horizontally, and a part of that will be to strengthen Zimbabwe. I am quietly confident they can again be competitive internationally," he added.

The ICC will introduce umpiring referral system during the Champions Trophy in Pakistan later this year as a trial and it could prompt officials to expand the role of technology in the decision-making process.

"It is important to assist the umpires, not replace them," Lorgat said. "They have an incredibly difficult and important job, and they should be offered help wherever possible technology should be used to help the umpires."

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